Bleary-eyed after our overnight flight from the States, we arrived at the hotel around 9:45 a.m., fully expecting to drop off our bags and then return in the afternoon to check in. So we were thrilled when the desk clerk told us if we wouldn’t mind waiting, our room would be ready at ten o’clock. After about 10 minutes he called us over, and moments later we were checked in. Let me tell you, to be unpacked and refreshed (after lying down for twenty or thirty minutes) still hours before the posted 3 p.m. check in time was a huge plus. Energized after our brief but precious downtime, we got a lot more of our first day because they were so accommodating.

We were struck by how large our room was. A corner room on the first floor, it had large windows and double doors that opened to a narrow balcony, allowing sights and sounds from the street to flood in from below. Heavy curtains stifled most of the light, if desired. There were two twin beds pushed together (typical of European hotels), a small but comfortable couch, desk, and computer. Inside the roomy double closet was a safe, operated free of charge by using one of your credit cards. We liked the neutral tones and the honey-colored, Pergo-style flooring. Call us geeks, but our favorite feature had to be the computer and free high-speed internet connection.

The bath featured attractive marble tile and had a bidet, tub, and separate shower. Somehow they found enough extra room to squeeze in an exercise bike as well.

If you come across this hotel on one of the countless hotel reservation web sites, there’s a good chance you’ll find the standard copy points the marketing folks back in the home office came up with. Among the most prominent of these is that the hotel is situated on a peaceful, pedestrian-only street. One envisions a narrow side street, somehow shut off from the hustle and bustle of Madrid. Well, it is surrounded by pedestrian-only streets. But peaceful? Not exactly. What they don’t tell you is that the hotel is smack dab in the middle of what must be the busiest stretch of pedestrian traffic in all of Madrid. I mean, I’d be willing to bet that thousands of people walk past this hotel each day, at all hours of the day and night. What’s more, there are plenty of vehicles around, especially during the day when delivery trucks crawl amongst the crowds to service the nearby retail shops and restaurants.

This small truth in advertising gripe aside, we loved this hotel and found the staff to be gracious and friendly.

Additional information:District: Old Madrid
Metro: Sol (L1, L2, L3)
Fax: +34 915 314 101